Saudi Arabia to join CPEC: Fawad Chaudhry

Islamabad (Staff Report /Agencies): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said that Saudi Arabia has accepted Pakistan’s invitation to become the third strategic partner in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Fawad Chaudhry said Pakistan has formally invited Saudi Arabia to become a partner in CPEC projects. He said that Saudi Arabia is the first country that Pakistan has invited to become a third partner in CPEC.

The minister said that upon the recommendation of Saudi King, His Highness Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, as well as the Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman and PM Khan, a committee has been formed.

He said that a high-level delegations from Saudi Arabia and UAE will visit Pakistan to discuss trade and security in October.

The Saudi delegation will comprise Saudi finance minister and Energy minister during the visit, Chaudhry added.

Fawad said that the agreements with Saudi Arabia will be transparent and clear and will be made public.

The information minister said that in Abu Dhabi, the Pakistani delegation was received by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Zayed. Matters of mutual interest were discussed in detail during the meeting," Chaudhry said.

He added that the complications in the procurement of UAE visas and other matters will be resolved soon as the matters had come under discussion during the visit.

Moving on to the matter of Nawaz Sharif, the minister denied any 'deal' behind the release saying that the former prime minister was out on bail, but the case against him had not concluded.